Robert E. Gerken Woodwind Scholarship

Established in 1992 By Rozan Gerken in memory of her husband, Dr. Robert Gerken, this scholarship is available to students majoring with a primary instrument in the woodwind area. Dr. Gerken, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, earned his BM from Jordan College of Music at Butler University in 1952 where he earned the Presser Scholarship. After he earned this degree, Dr. Gerken served in the Korean War as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force from August 1952 to August 1956 where he also played first clarinet in the US Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. During this time, he studied clarinet under Ignatius Genessa and played first clarinet with the Baltimore Symphony. Following his discharge, Dr. Gerken attended Catholic University where he earned his MA in 1958 and then he attended Indiana University where he earned his PhD in 1969. Dr. Gerken arrived at Georgia Southern in 1961 where he worked as a musicologist and professor of woodwinds until he retired in 1988 with the title of professor emeritus of music.